On the road again

Jim and Nancy do not disclose the fact that they will review a restaurant before they attend, ensuring their reviews are unbiased and uninfluenced by their position with the Sun Day.

Jim is having his midlife crisis at age 70, oh lucky me, that means he’ll probably live to be 140!!! Time to go out looking for a small fun car to boost his ego during his crisis. He always wanted a Smart Car after seeing them in Europe, and it would be a perfect fit in our garage since we want to get a golf cart also. Our first goal was to see if Jim, being 6’4″ tall, could fold himself into this miniscule vehicle. To our dismay, we learned that they are no longer sold in the United States.

Nancy recently saw a cool sports car that reminded her of her BMW Z3 Roadster of years back. After some research, it was discovered to be a Mazda Miata, so off we went to the dealership. The salesman pulled the car around. I bent and twisted my artificial joints to their limit. It wasn’t easy, but I finally got in.

Now for my turn. Jim didn’t warn me how tight the quarters were, so I plopped right into the seat without any hesitation. Sitting together in the car, we both realized that the car was a bit cramped for grandpa and grandma, so we decided this might not be the ideal car for us.

Now the fun begins. I managed to wriggle out of this “Barbie” car just as Nancy yelled, “I’m stuck!” Immediately, three courses of action came to mind. One: get her out. Two: call for the jaws of life. Three: buy the damn car. I ran around the car, grabbed her left leg, and gave it a yank. She popped out like a cork from a wine bottle! Problem solved.

Since we worked up quite an appetite today, on our way home, we stopped for lunch at the Randall Roadhouse in Carpentersville.

The dećor matches that of a rustic roadhouse. The only problem is, it is not handicap accessible if you want a booth or regular table. These were a step up and they only have four of each. The rest of the seating is handicap accessible with only high top tables and stools.

They have an extensive appetizer menu to choose from, and we went with the (3) Bosco Sticks ($6.95). These were bread sticks stuffed with mozzarella cheese then baked and served with marinara sauce. These were ooey gooey good and the sauce was delicious.

Nancy wanted to try a favorite from long ago, namely, a Cheese Panzarotti for $12 with a $1.50 upcharge for each additional ingredient. She chose pepperonni for her additional ingredient. Dining Duo Tip: This takes 40 minutes to prepare. When it came to our table, her eyes bugged out. It was a ginormous, humongous, deep fried pierogi that could easily feed two people. Of course, a doggie bag was walking home with her.

Jim tried the Angus Burger Wrap ($9.50) which was a half pound grilled angus burger chopped and served with lettuce, red onion, and tomato. He had a choice of sides and he chose french fries. This monster wrap was delicious, but make sure you ask for the ketchup, mustard, and mayo to be included in the wrap.

We were so stuffed with food that we didn’t even ask about dessert. Now we know how that Miata must have felt!

In conclusion, this is a good place for appetizers, salads, sandwiches, and pizza, in a friendly pub like atmosphere.

The cost for “stuffing” ourselves was $38.65. Grandma and Grandpa getting out of the sports car, priceless. Just ask all the car salesmen at the dealership who were lined up at the window, watching us and laughing!

Jim’s take: I neglected to ask for the ketchup, mustard, and mayo in my wrap. It’s really difficult to squirt the ketchup inside.

Nancy’s take: That was the biggest panzarotti I’ve ever seen, and the smallest car I’ve ever seen.

Have comments or restaurant suggestions for the Dining Duo? Send them an email at thediningduo@gmail.com

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